THE NEW WAY OF STATIONS OF The Second Station

THE CROSS THE AGONY IN GETHSEMANI

OPENING PRAYER Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we

praise you.
LEADER: Lord Jesus Christ, as we gather here All: Because by your holy cross you have
to meditate on your Paschal Mystery, grant us redeemed the world.
all the grace to detest sin as you did, and to
spend our life for our neighbor as you taught
Jesus went out and made his way, as was
us through your example. Thus, shall we be
his custom, to the Mount of Olives. His
able to share not only in your sufferings but
disciples accompanied him. On reaching the
also in your resurrection. You who live and
place he said to them, “Pray that you may not
reign forever and ever.
be out to the test.” He withdrew from them
about a stone’s throw, then went down on his
All: Amen! knees and prayed in these words: “Father, if it
is your will, take this cup from me; yet not my
The First Station will but yours be done.” In his anguish he
THE LAST SUPPER prayed with even greater intensity, and his
sweat became like drops of blood falling to the
ground. Then he rose from prayer and came to
Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we
his disciples, only to find them asleep,
praise you.
exhausted with grief. (Lk 22:39-42.44-45)
All: Because by your holy cross you have
Prayer
redeemed the world.

The Lord Jesus on the night in which he It was a long, terrible night, Lord. * And
was betrayed took bread, and after he had not one of your disciples found the strength *
given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my to keep you company in your agony. * Your
body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance only strength was your determination * to do
of me.” In the same way, after the supper, he the Father’s will at all costs.
took the cup saying, “This cup is the new
covenant in my blood. Do this, whenever you And your solitary agony continues, *
drink it, in remembrance of me.” Every time, even to this day, * in the loneliness of those
then, you eat this bread and drink this cup, who have no friends, * no home, no hope, no
you proclaim the death of the Lord until he future * …Our society is filled with them, * but
comes! (1 Cor 11:23:26) we pretend not to know, * and slumber noisily
while they die * victims of neglect.
(Pause for silent reflection)

Prayer
The Third Station
Lord Jesus, you loved us to the utmost. * JESUS BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN
You loved us to the end. * You remain in the
Eucharist to be for us * the food and drink that Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we
give eternal life. * You remain with us * to be praise you.
the continuous sign * of God’s saving presence
in all circumstances of life. All: Because by your holy cross you have
redeemed the world.
Forgive us, Lord, * for the times we have
failed to appreciate * your gift of self to us * The high priest stood up before the court
and your loving presence in the Eucharist. and interrogated Jesus: “Are you the Messiah,
the Son of the Blessed One?” Then Jesus
answered: “I am. And you will see the Son of
Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty
and coming with the clouds of heaven.” At that
the high priest tore his robes and said: “What didn’t think it was worthwhile * to uphold
further need do we have of witnesses? You justice and protect your innocence. * So the
have heard the blasphemy. What is your mad mob had its way. * The Roman soldiers
verdict?” They all concurred in the verdict had their way * as they reduced your body to a
“guilty,” with its sentence of death. As soon as bleeding wound * and crowned your head with
it was daybreak the chief priests, with the thorns and mockery.
elders and scribes bound Jesus, led him away,
and handed him over to Pilate. (Mk 14:60- And you didn’t open your mouth in
64.15:1) protest. *You endured it all, * meek, like a
lamb to be slaughtered; * silent, like the
Prayer millions of exploited simple people, *
oppressed by the ruthless, * while many of us
Lord Jesus, * you are the judge of all turn a blind eye * to such blatant injustices …
human beings, * yet you accepted to be
judged by biased judges. * You are the all-
holy, * the only innocent on earth, * yet you
endured the condemnation of obstinate sinners The Fifth Station
… JESUS RECEIVES THE CROSS

And the unfair trial goes on, * duplicated

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we
in all the unjust sentences * through which
praise you.
innocent people are condemned and rascals
are acquitted. * You are still the victim of these
All: Because by your holy cross you have
injustices * perpetuated against the weak, the
redeemed the world.
defenseless, * the voiceless of our society, * in
whom you continue to live and suffer.
When they had finished mocking Jesus,
they stripped him of the cloak, dressed him in
his own clothes, and led him off to crucify him.
(Mt 27:31)
The Fourth Station
THE SCOURGING AND CROWNING Prayer
WITH THORNS
Dear Lord, * the cross was the
Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we punishment for criminals and insurgents. *
praise you. Who could believe that it was placed on the
shoulders of the Son of God, * the source of all
All: Because by your holy cross you have holiness and goodness?
redeemed the world.
And yet, you accepted it in all humility *
Pilate asked the crowd: “What am I to do because you knew that such was the condition
with Jesus, the so-called Messiah?” They all * to save us from eternal damnation.
shouted, “Crucify him!” He said, “Why, what
crime has he committed?” But they shouted The cross you accepted to carry was our
louder, “Crucify him!” cross * - the cross of our sins, * the cross of
our weaknesses, our discouragements, * our
After having Jesus scourged, Pilate failures, our wickedness …
delivered him to be crucified. Then the
soldiers, weaving a crown out of thorns, fixed To this very day, * innocent men, women
it on his head, and stuck a reed in his right and children are made to bear * the cross of
hand. Then they began to mock him by other people’s faults, greed, pride, lust…
dropping to their knees before him, saying, “
Hail, king of the Jews!”(Mt 27:22-20, passim) Grant us the grace, dear Lord, * never to
burden others with our moral defects, * and
Prayer bravely to carry with you * the cross of our
daily duty.
Instigated by your enemies, * the mob
wanted you dead, dear Jesus, * and Pilate
 The Sixth Station A man named Simon of Cyrene, the
father of Alexander and Rufus, was coming in
JESUS FALLS UNDER THE WEIGHT OF
from the fields. The soldiers pressed him into
THE CROSS
service to carry the cross of Jesus. (Mk 15:21)

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we Prayer

praise you.
Simon just happened to pass there * on
All: Because by your holy cross you have
his way home from the fields. * He was forced
redeemed the world.
to make a detour * - a detour that changed the
course if his life. * Forced to carry your cross,
As he staggered along the road to
Lord Jesus, * he himself became a victim of
Calvary, Jesus felt crushed by the cross he was
oppression and injustice. * He experienced a
carrying on his shoulders. Much more,
share of your pain, Lord, * and thus discovered
perhaps, he felt overwhelmed by the savage
what life can be * if one wants to help others.
jeering of the mob that kept insulting him as if
he were a criminal… Exhausted by the
Send us more simon of Cyrene, Lord. *
sleepless night and the tortures he had already
Send us people who have the courage * to
endured, Jesus fell to the ground under the
shoulder the crosses of others in brotherly
weight of the cross and the moral tortures he
solidarity and patience. * Make us like Simon,
had suffered.
Lord. * Grant us the strength and generosity to
carry one another’s burden, * for our society is
Prayer
crowded with poor Christs * crushed by
crosses of all shapes and weights.
The distance from the Praetorium to
Calvary was not long * - just a few hundred
meters. But it took you long, Lord, to walk that
stretch, staggering painfully * and groping in The Eighth Station
vain for help … * Your strength had long
deserted you. * The road was uneven. * The JESUS MEETS THE PIOUS WOMEN OF
crowd was merciless. * The cross was JERUSALEM
becoming heavier * and heavier, till it weighed
you down… * down to the dust! Like you, Lord, Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we
* so many of us stagger and fall * along the praise you.
hard way of the cross * that life becomes when
trials and failures * overwhelm us and crush us All: Because by your holy cross you have
to the ground. redeemed the world.

When we stumble and fall, * Lord, be our A great crowd of people followed Jesus,
support! And when our brothers and sisters including some women who beat their breasts
seem unable to carry the burden of their trials, and lamented over him. Jesus turned to them
* Lord, give us a compassionate heart, * that and said: “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not
we may not add insult to injury. weep for me. Weep for yourselves and for your
children. The days are coming when they will
say, ‘Happy are the sterile, the wombs that
never bore and the breasts that never nursed.’
The Seventh Station Then they will begin saying to the mountains,
‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ If they
SIMON OF CYRENE CARRIES THE
do these things in the green wood, what will
CROSS OF JESUS
happen in the dry?”(Lk 23:27-31)

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we Prayer

praise you.
Lord Jesus, * those women of Jerusalem
All: Because by your holy cross you have
were surely sincere in their sorrow for you. *
redeemed the world.
They were brave enough to follow you along
the road to Calvary. * But you directed their
attention to the cause of your suffering * -
SIN, and the punishment which unrepentance
would bring down on all.
The Tenth Station
We wish we were as sincere as they were
THE REPENTANT THIEF
* in lamenting the unfair treatment to which
you were subjected. * And we wish likewise
that we were equally sensitive * to the Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we
suffering of our neighbor * - especially the praise you.
squatters, the jobless, the homeless, * and all
the other victims of human injustice and All: Because by your holy cross you have
exploitation. * For it is all these forms of sin * redeemed the world.
which bring down God’s well-deserved
punishments on our society. One of the criminals hanging in
crucifixion blasphemed Jesus: “Aren’t you the
Messiah? Then save yourself and us!” But the
other one rebuked him: “Have you no fear of
The Ninth Station God, seeing that you are under the same
sentence? We deserve it, after all. We are only
JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS paying the price for what we’ve done, but this
man has done nothing wrong.” He then said,
Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we “Jesus, remember me when you enter upon
praise you. your reign.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you:
this day you will be with me in paradise.”(Lk
All: Because by your holy cross you have 23:39-43)
redeemed the world.
Prayer
When they came to the place called “the
Skull,” they crucified Jesus there together with Lord Jesus, * there was so much sincerity
the two criminals. Jesus said, “Father, forgive * in the public confession of the repentant
them; they do not know what they are doing.” thief… * so much faith and trust * in the words
The people stood there watching and the he addressed to you. * The man really believed
leaders kept jeering at him, saying, “He saved in your mercy. * He believed in your kingdom.
others, Let him save himself if he is the * And you did not disappoint him.
Messiah of God, the chosen one!” (Lk 23:33-
35) We often meet people who have done
wrong * and would like to begin a new life. *
Prayer Lord, grant that we may always be as well
disposed to them * as you were to the
Lord, * those hands of yours which repentant thief. * In this way, we, too, * will
caressed the children, * blessed the sick and end the course of our life * sharing the faith
chased demons away * are now nailed and trust of the good thief, * and hearing your
mercilessly to the wood of the cross. * Your promise of eternal life.
feet which had taken you from village to village
* to bring the Good News of the Kingdom to
all, * are now immobilized forever… * your
enemies dare you to come down from the The Eleventh Station
cross. * But you don’t. Not because of the
MARY AND JOHN AT THE FOOT OF THE
nails, but because of your love for us sinners.
CROSS
It was love which brought you there. * It is
love that keeps you there.
Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we
Lord Jesus, * grant us the grace to do praise you.
our duties * out of love and with love, * even
when all this resembles the pain of the All: Because by your holy cross you have
crucifixion. redeemed the world.

Near the cross of Jesus there stood his

mother, his mother’s sisters, Mary the wife of
Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. Seeing his You had only one life, dear Lord, * life all
mother there with the disciple whom he loved, of us, * and you gave it up of your own free
Jesus said to his mother, “Woman, there is will, * that we might live forever. * It was our
your son.” In turn he said to the disciple, sins, it was your love for us that killed you, *
“There is your mother.” From that hour dearest Jesus.
onward, the disciple took Mary into his care.
(Jn 19:25-27) Before you breathed your last * you said
you were thirsty - * thirsty for love. * Today
Prayer we offer you * the solace of our repentant
love, Lord. * We want to love you * also for
“Suffering, like a sword, will pierce your the days when we failed to do so. We want to
heart,” * had prophesied old Simeon. * On love you for all those who refuse to love. * And
Calvary, Mary experienced the fulfillment of may we, at the end of our stormy life, * die
that prophesy in its fullness. * And once again confidently pronouncing your last words, *
she said in her heart, * “Let it be done to me “Father, into your hands I comment my spirit!”
as you said.”

No one on earth loved you as your

Mother did, Lord; * nor did you love any other The thirteenth Station
person on earth as you loved her. * And she JESUS IS LAID IN THE TOMB
was there, * witness and sharer of your
redeeming suffering. * By entrusting her to
Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we
John, you provided for the remaining days of
praise you.
your Mother. * By entrusting John to her, you
provided for all mankind, * for you gave us all
All: Because by your holy cross you have
* your very own mother as our mother.
redeemed the world.
May we be as loving children to her as
When evening fell, a wealthy man –
you were.
Joseph of Arimathea, arrived. He was another
of Jesus’ disciples and had gone to request the
The Twelfth Station body of Jesus. Thereupon Pilate issued an
JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS order for its release. Taking the body, Joseph
wrapped it in fresh linen, and laid it in his own
Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we tomb which had been hewn from a formation
praise you. of rock. Then he rolled a huge stone across the
entrance of the tomb and went away. (Mt
All: Because by your holy cross you have 27:57-60)
redeemed the world.
Prayer
It was now around midday, and darkness
came over the whole land until mid-afternoon Lord Jesus, * the dark night of death has
with an eclipse of the sun. Jesus said: “I am engulfed you. * The only bright lights * are the
thirsty.” They stuck a sponge soaked in wine tender love of your mother, * the faithfulness
on some hyssop and raised it to his lips. When of John * and the friendship of Joseph of
Jesus took the wine, he said: “Now it is Arimathea and a few others. * You are laid in
finished.” He uttered a loud cry and said, the tomb * like a precious treasure placed in a
“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” chest; * like a seed hidden in the soil.
After he said this, he died. (Lk 23:44,46; Jn
19:28-30) Your burial gives meaning and hope to
our burials. * Thanks to you, * they have
Prayer become the tranquil sleep in the lap of mother
earth, * trustfully awaiting the joyful
We were all condemned to die because of awakening * when the dawn of our
our sins, * and you took upon yourself * the resurrection * will break the fetters of death
death penalty that you alone did not deserve. forever.
 The Fourteenth Station
JESUS RISES FROM DEATH

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we

Final Prayer
praise you.
Leader: All-powerful and ever-living God,
All: Because by your holy cross you have your only Son died for our sins and rose
redeemed the world. triumphantly from the dead. In your goodness,
raise up your faithful people to be one with him
After the sabbath, as the first day of the in the eternal life of heaven, where he lives
week was dawning, Mary Magdalene came with and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
the other Mary to inspect the tomb. Suddenly God, forever and ever.
there was a mighty earthquake, as the angel of
the Lord descended from heaven. He came to All: Amen!
the stone, rolled it back, and sat on it. Then
the angel spoke, addressing the women: “Do Leader:And may the blessing of Almighty
not be frightened. I know you are looking for God: Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, descend
Jesus the crucified. He is not here. He has upon us and with us remain always.
been raised, exactly as he promised. Go
quickly and tell his disciples, “He has been All: Amen!
raised from the dead.’” (Mt 28:1-2, 5-6)

Prayer

Jesus, * your holy body could not

undergo the corruption of the sepulcher. * The
tomb could not hold you longer than it was
needed * to prove that your death was real. *
Now the shattered seals, * the entrance stone
rolled back, * the testimony of the angel *
prove that our resurrection is real. It also
proves in advance * that we too shall rise.

Your resurrection, Lord, * is the pattern

of our resurrection even now. * It is a
challenge to all of us to rise, * from the death
of sin to the life of grace.

Jesus, you are the Lord of the living. *

Thank you, Lord, * for dying for us. * Thank
you for rising for us.

Prayer for the Intention of the Holy

Father

Our father…

Hail Mary…

Glory be…